After attacking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. so much that he decided to bow out of the presidential race and endorse Trump, Democrats are pivoting and going even harder on Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
And it’s sick.
At a glance:
- Democrats have launched an ad campaign against Green Party candidate Jill Stein in key swing states.
- Stein is polling at around 1 percent, but Democrats fear she could act as a “spoiler” in the close race between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
- Stein’s criticism of U.S. support for Israel has gained her new supporters, including endorsements from progressive and Muslim-American groups.
With less than a month until Election Day, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has ramped up efforts to dissuade potential voters from backing third-party candidates like Jill Stein. Although Stein is polling at only about 1 percent, Democrats are concerned that her presence in the race could siphon votes from Vice President Kamala Harris, especially in key swing states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
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The DNC’s new television ad directly targets Stein, blaming her for Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 election and asserting that voting for her is equivalent to supporting Trump. The ad features a clip of Trump praising Stein, further stoking Democratic fears of a repeat scenario where a third-party candidate affects the outcome in crucial battlegrounds.
Stein’s candidacy has garnered some attention, particularly in light of her strong opposition to U.S. support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza. As both major parties continue to back Israel, Stein has positioned herself as a dissenting voice, appealing to voters critical of the ongoing conflict. Her stance has attracted the support of groups like the Michigan-based Muslim organization, Abandon Harris, which recently endorsed her in protest of the Biden administration’s stance on Gaza.
Historically, third-party candidates have been blamed for influencing the outcomes of tight races, as was the case in the 2000 election when Ralph Nader’s Green Party candidacy was seen as a contributing factor in George W. Bush’s victory. However, Stein and her supporters argue that third-party candidates offer necessary alternatives to a broken two-party system.